Pocket fingerprinting kit



May 26, 1925.

1,539,448 T. M. WHITE POCKET FINGERPRINTINGKIT .Filed April 11, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN vE/Y Tofi. mom/75 M. WHITE.

2 BYjwTfZ/YEY.

7 1,539,448 T. M. WHITE POCKET FINGERPRINTING KIT Filed April 11, 1924 2 Shets-Sheet 2 IN VE/Y 70/1. THO/V175 M. WH/ TE.

Patented May 26, 1925,

UNITED STATES THOMAS M. WHITE, or .AUSTIN,MINNESOTA.

POCKET -FINGERPRINTING KIT.

Application filed April 11, 1924. Serial No. 705,749.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, 'THoMAs M. VHITE, a citizen of the United States, residin at Austin, in the county of Mower and tate of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pocket Fingerprinting Kits; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to finger printing devices and kits for containing the necessary tools and equipment for making and examining finger prints.

It is the object of this invention to provide a finger printing kit which will be adapted to contain all of the necessary equipment and will be of suitable size to be carried in a coat or vest pocket.

It is a further object to provide a folding kit which willhave means therein for quickly and conveniently making finger impressions on cards detachably carried by one section of said kit. 1

To these ends, generally stated, the invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices herein described and set forth in the claims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like notations refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and in which,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the kit in open or unfolded position;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the invention in folded or secured position;

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on the line fl= l of Fig. 1; and 4 Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

The invention may be made in many different forms and from many different materials, but the construction of the preferred form illustrated is a'sfollows.

A rectangular strip X, of preferably flexible material such as leather, forms the back or cover of the kit. This strip is folded to form two connected sections 6 and 7, which are adapted to be foldable transversely upon each other. A frame 8, preferably of wood or sheet metal, is secured to and covered on its backs and sides by section 6 of the strip Z and has, at one side of its top, semi-cylindrical grooves 9 adapted to hold several cylindrical containers 10. A retaining strip 9, of preferably flexible material, extends transversely over the cylindrical grooves 9, at their lower ends, and is adapted to retain the containers 10 when they are properly inserted between the strip and the semi-cylindrical grooves. These containers are adapted to carry powders of different colors which are-sprinkled over prints on different objects to clarify or raise the print, so that it may be' studied.- The other side of the frame 8 is equipped with a countersunk portion 11 in which an ink pad 12 is held. Directly beneath the pad 12, the frame has a longitudinal pocket 13, open at the outer,

end of the frame 8, into whicha magnifymg glass 13 for use in studying finger prints may be disposed.

A cover 14, preferably of flexible material,

is provided for the top of the pad 12 having one of its longitudinal edges secured to the adjacent side edge of the frame 8 and having its free edge adapted to slightly overlap the adjacent partition 11 afi'orded by the countersunk top portion 11 of the frame.

On the other section of the kit 7 a means for detachably holding a plurality of loose sheets or cards 15 issecured. This means is preferably in the form of an open panel 16 stitched at its lower and side edges to the edges of the strip leaving an unstitched edge at its top portion, whereby the cards 15 may be inserted therein. These cards are preferably ruled into ten portions, each ruled portion being adapted to receive a separate finger print, the top five portions being for the prints of one hand and the lower five ruled portions adapted for the finger prints of the other hand.

On the connecting portion of the strip,

designated by the numeral. 17, holding means are provided, preferably in the form of strips 18, stitched to leave small aligned loops 18*. Small tools, such as the brush 19 and pointer or ridge counter 20, maybe inserted through and carried by these loops. The strip X is extended beyond the lower edge of the holding panel 16 to afford a flap 21, which is adapted to fold over the opposite edge of theframe 10 on section 6.- C0- operating snap buttons 22 and 22 are provided on the flap and edge of the frame to secure the kit together in folded position.

The folded kit is of such size that it may be'convenientlylcarried in a coatpocketand may be quickly unfastened to permit a subjects finger prints to be taken. The'subject is preferably seated before .aytableqandrthe kit folded out in front of him with the protecting cover 14 for the pad folded outwardly. The fingers may then be inked on the pad 12 and successively printed on the topmost card carried in the panel 16, each finger impression being made in its proper ruled portion on said card. Identification matter, such as the name, address, etc., of the person may be written on theback of the card, after the card'has hcend'rawnou-t from the top of the panel.

oftentimes ,in. detective work, it is desired to clarify or raise finger prints left on various objects. To accomplish this,'various colored powders are used, which are sprinkled over the natural oil print left on the object. Thus, if the object is black,

white powder wouldbe usedto -raise"theprint, while if the print. were on yellow metal, such as brass, a silver colored powder would bring the bestresu'lts. The containers 1-0 are adapted to hold such powders and to "be disposed in the semt'cylin-drical grooves '9 on one side of the frame 8.

The kit .thuscontains all necessary paraphernalia for making, examining and clarifying finger prints and,. when folded up, is of such size that, it can be conveniently carried in asmall pocket.

The novel means for making specimen finger prints on the top card carried in the panel 16 permit accurate prints to be taken w-i'thzfull identification of the subject and finger from which eachv print; was taken.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details ,and, arrangement of parts and materials used without departing from the scope of .the invention.

What I claim isz 1. Apocketfin 'er printingkit comprising two connected sections foldab'le transversely 'upon each other, and a means onone of said sections foroverlapping the edges of and holding in place a plurality of loose sheets whereby the top sheet will be exposed to. receive finger impressions. and be prevented from moving edgewise.

- 2. A pocket finger printing kit comprising, two connected sections foldable, transversely upon, each other, ,an ink pad on the inner side. of one of said sections, means on the other section for holding a plurality of loose sheets whereby the top sheetwill be exposed to receive fin er impressions and means for, holding a p urality of tools including a counter and brush.

3. A pocket finger printing kit comprising two connected" sections foldable transversely upon each other, an ink pad on the inner side of one of said sections and also. means thereon for holding a plurality of containers for holding print-raisingpchemicals, and a means on said other section for .detachahly .holding a plurality of loose disposed, the top card of which will always be exposed to receive finger impressions.

5. A peck-etfinger printing kit comprising two connected sections fol'dable transversely upon each other, the inner-surface of one of saidsections having on one sid thereof an ink pad and directly beneath said pad a pocket for the disposal of a magnify ing glass and having-on -i-ts other side mean's for holding-a plurality of relativelysmall containers, the combined height of said pocket and pad'bein-g equal to the thickness of said containers and said holding means, the other of said 'seetions hav-ing thereon means for holding a plurality of 'loose cards whereby the top card willbe exposed to receive finger impressions.

'6. A pocket fingerprinting kit having in combination a strip forming twosections foldable transversely upon each other with a connection portion therebetween, one-of said sections having thereon anink pad, a cover for said pad, and means for holding a plurality of containers, the other of said sections having means thereon for holding a plurality of loose cards whereby the top card will always be eX-poscdto reoeive finger impressions, and means on said connection portion for holding a plurality of relatively small tools.

7. A pocket finger printing kit having in combination a strip forming two sections foldable transversely upon each other and a connecting portion there'between, a frame secured to one of said sections having on one side thereof means for holding a plurality of. containers and having on its other side means for securing an ink pad and directly below said means a pocket for the disposal of a magnifying glass,-1neansfor detachably holding apiurality ofloosecards on the other section whereby the top card will always be exposedto receive'finger impressions, and'means on said connecting portion for holding a plurality of relatively small tools. I w p 8. The structure set forth in claim 7, and a flap on one endofsaid stripequipped with fastening means forco-operating with fastening means on the outer edge of said frame and securing the sections together in folded position.

9. A finger print kit comprising relatively swinging sections having thereon means for holding a magnifying glass, means for holding a plurality of containers for print raising chemicals means for holding a plurality of tools including a brush, and means for holding a plurality of sheets of paper for receiving finger prints.

10, A finger print kit comprising relatively swinging sections, one of said sections carrying thereon an ink pad, and said sections also having thereon means for holding 15 amagnifying glass, means for holding a plurality of containers for print raising chemicals, and means for holding a plurality of tools including a brush for distributing said chemicals and a tool for counting the finger prints.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

THOMAS M. WHITE. 

